[Bromodeoxyuridine labeling index in gastric cancer]

In vivo and in vitro BrdU labeling index (L.I.) were calculated in 97 and 11 gastric cancers, respectively. Biopsied specimens by means of endoscopy were used in vitro method. A comparison of the in vitro and in vivo L.I. showed good correlation (p less than 0.01). Gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis had a significantly higher median in vivo L.I. of 16.2% as compared with a median in vivo L.I. of 13.3% in gastric cancer without lymph node metastasis (p less than 0.05). An in vivo L.I. of gastric cancer with vessel invasion was significantly higher than that without vessel invasion (p less than 0.05). Early gastric cancer with an in vivo L.I. of less than 12% had no lymph node metastasis. On the contrary, 31% in that with an in vivo L.I. of greater than 12% had lymph node metastasis. The in vitro L.I. which was similar to the in vivo L.I. may be useful to decide operative procedure in gastric cancer, specially in early gastric cancer.